The referee chosen on Wednesday for the semi final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 between England and Argentina has been found to be at his peak even before the ball has been kicked. Moroccan-American captain Ismail Elfath will oversee the clash at Atlanta Stadium, adding another big thing to his growing CV. The 44-year-old will be refereeing his fourth game at the tournament, having already taken charge of Japan’s 2-2 draw with the Netherlands, Spain’s 1-0 win over Uruguay and Norway’s shock 2-1 win over Brazil in the round of 16. The project also brings an interesting sub-plot for the Argentine captain Lionel Messi. Elfath has been involved in a number of key matches for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner in recent years, prompting some fans on social media to speculate on the coincidence. In 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Elfath acted as the fourth official in the final match between Argentina and France, where Messi scored twice before guiding his country to victory in a penalty shoot-out. A year later, Elfath was the referee for the 2023 Leagues Cup final, where Messi scored Inter Miami’s only goal against Nashville SC before the MLS club lifted the trophy after a shootout. His record in Major League Soccer has also been impressive. Elfath has presided over Inter Miami’s four games involving Messi, with the Florida team winning all of those games. The numbers have sparked speculation online, with some describing Elfath as a “lucky” player to play for Messi. However, there is no evidence that the official has shown interest in the Argentine star or any other player. The appointment comes in a tournament where Argentina’s victories over Egypt and Switzerland have sparked a huge controversy over refereeing decisions. Egypt conceded a goal in their defeat, with Switzerland’s Breel Embolo sent off following VAR intervention, sparking criticism from players and officials after both games. The controversy has also led to conspiracy theories on social media claiming that FIFA has favored Argentina in what is expected to be Messi’s World Cup final. Football’s governing body has always rejected those ideas. The head of FIFA, Pierluigi Collina, recently defended the game’s officials, stressing that players work independently and cannot be swayed by external pressure. He also warned that baseless accusations could lead to harassment and intimidation of officials and their families, insisting that every decision is made in a fair manner. From a football perspective, Elfath is known for his disciplined approach. In his three matches at the 2026 World Cup, he has shown eight yellow cards and one red card, meaning that England and Argentina can expect a tightly controlled competition. The semi-final has great significance for the two countries. England are chasing their first World Cup final since lifting the trophy in 1966, while defenders Argentina are looking to reach a second successive final as Messi continues his quest to claim another international trophy.